The Delavan Common Council met on Tuesday, July 21 at 6:30 p.m. at the Municipal Building, and discussed Delavan’s expanding housing market, plans to create a healthy outdoor environment, updating their media and website, COVID-19, and future agenda items.
Alderperson Ron Henriott expressed enthusiasm over Delavan’s housing market. He noted that Delavan used to sell one or two houses per year, but that number has been expanding. Delavan just opened a Kwik Trip on South Wright St., which has been gathering positive feedback from residents. A Jiffy Lube is also in the works.
Delavan is working in many ways to keep the environment clean, healthy, and safe. Discussion centered around the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resource’s Clean Boats, Clean Waters project, which protects the lakes from harm. Volunteers are needed to clean boats before they enter the waters so as to keep out pollutants. According to the Wisconsin DNR website, Clean Boats, Clean Waters inspected 528 boats at Delavan Lake in 2019.
Similarly, 50 people conducted a study through the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater proving the value of a clean and healthy Delavan lake. Also involved in this study is the Delavan Lake Improvement Association and the Walworth County Economic Development Alliance. For more information on the project, attend the event What is the Value of a Clean & Healthy Delavan Lake? on Wednesday, August 5 at 7:30 a.m. at Lake Lawn Resort.
Alderperson Luis Solis of the Communications Commission talked about updating the city website and adding new features, allowing it to be more user friendly. Badgerland Marketing was mentioned as a potential partner in this project to keep it local. Additionally, there was discussion on updating audio/video recording systems used by the council.
Regarding COVID-19, section 10.2 of the meeting agenda reads “Possible consideration of a further extension of and/or modifications to the Resolution Declaring a Local State of Emergency and granting the Mayor and City Administrator joint executive authority to take appropriate actions for the protection of city employees and the general public in response to COVID-19”. This extension is set to go through December, as it was approved by the Common Council. However, prior to this decision, citizen Jack Vey noted that “people are tired of being cooped up”, and wants more citizen input on the topic.
Upon the extension being approved, Alderperson Matt Beiser gave his support of the extension and stated that Wisconsin has exceeded one thousand positive cases per day. He stressed for everyone to constantly stay aware of what is happening, and the importance of making sound, educated decisions quickly.
Early in the meeting, Henriott addressed the rising cases of COVID-19 in Walworth County, and said that additional testing sites are scheduled for later usage in July. He did not mention names of addresses of any specific locations.
Shortly before the conclusion of the meeting, Delavan citizen Jack Vey voiced concern of the absence of handicap tables at Phoenix Park. He also discussed bringing back praying before every meeting. Both of these topics are possible agenda items for future meetings.
The next Delavan Common Council meeting will be Tuesday, August 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Municipal Building in the Council Chambers room.
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